Monday, November 09, 2009

Panna National Park, which is already feeling the heat, after the wipe out of tigers, is once again in the news as the body of a panther has been recovered on Saturday from Raja Baria beat of the park. The marks found on the body of the aged panther had raised suspicion of poaching, while the park administration declined to accept this and is waiting for the forensic reports.

According to the information, the park patrol team recovered the body aged around 13 years on Saturday. The panther is reported to have died on Friday. The panther is having injury marks on the body, which shows that it has been inflicted by a country made rifle, but the park officers have maintained that this big cat was aged and nothing could be said before the forensic report is received.

The officials also used the metal detector for ascertaining the presence of bullets inside feline’s body and scull of the big cat has been detached from the body. The panther was cremated after conducting the autopsy. The samples would be sent to the Forensic Lab at Sagar and WII, Dehradun.

Ranger of the beat concerned IK Afridi informed that the panther was aged and was also sick. He added that the park administration is considering the death as unnatural. The officer claimed that panther’s body is showing max (bee) marks. He added that the inquiry is focusing on death caused by assault or poisoning or natural reasons.